Indigenous Histories of Tuberculosis in Manitoba Issue 3: Fall 2014 Project Update It is punilhle-waniipakw-niipaahum, or falling leaf moon and time to check in again on the “Indigenous Histories of Tuberculosis in Manitoba, 1930-1970” project. In June, project researcher Felicia Sinclair had a beautiful baby girl named Winter Sequoia Sinclair. We wish them all the best! Over the summer, research at the archives has continued. In addition, oral histories were undertaken at Sagkeeng, Fisher River and St. Theresa Point. These interviews are crucial to gaining an understanding of the experience of sanatoria from the perspective of patients and we are very Contents thankful to those who have shared their time and stories with us so far. We are pleased that sanatorium history has Feature Indian Hospital: been the subject of two recent media broadcasts. APTN 2 Brandon Sanatorium, Brandon has undertaken a week-long examination of sanatoriums and Indian hospitals in Canada: (http://aptn.ca/news/ Meet Members of Our 2014/09/25/sanatoriums-indian-hospitals-infocus/) and 5 Research Team: Paula earlier this year, the CBC produced a documentary on Okemow and Kathi Avery Canada’s Segregated Health Care (http://www.cbc.ca/ Kinew thecurrent/episode/2013/01/30/state-of-care- documentary-canadas-segregated-health-care/). In this Understanding Age as a issue of the newsletter, we continue our series on Indian 5 Factor of Indigenous Sanatoria in Manitoba and focus on Brandon Sanatorium. Experiences of Sanatoria Two researchers on this project, Paula Okemow and Kathi Avery Kinew will be introduced, and we discuss how age factored into sanatorium experiences for Indigenous patients. 12 Indian Sanatoria: Brandon Sanatorium Location: Brandon, Manitoba Dates of Operation: 1947-1959 Number of Beds: Brandon Sanatorium. Library and Archives Canada We are featuring sanatoria in thorax, pneumoperitoneum, Indian hospital and again in Manitoba that were operated pnumonectomy, thoraco- the conversion from an by the Sanatorium Board of plasties, and lobectomies. Indian hospital to a Manitoba. The summer issue Patients at Brandon were rehabilitation hospital. covered Dynevor Indian exposed to and in some Hospital. In this issue, we’ll look cases contracted other An Indian Affairs teacher at Brandon. infections conditions while at was hired at the hospital the hospital, including and she focused on The Brandon Sanatorium had whooping cough, influenza, handicrafts instruction. been a military and veterans polio and fungal diseases. Often the work patients hospital and was purchased produced was entered into from the Canadian Army by Many of the patients at local compeitions for prizes the Department of National Brandon were very far away and presented to guests Health and Welfare after the from home, and in her and organizations affiliated Second World War. Brandon research, Felicia Sinclair with Brandon Sanatorium. discovered that the hospital Sanatorium’s patents were In the late 1950s and early mostly First Nations, but there invested in a tape recorder so that patients with relatives 1960s, Brandon become were also Métis and White Assiniboine Hospital and patients, and, from the late in the north could record messages for their relatives. focused on rehabilitation, 1940s, there were also Inuit physiotherapy, occupation- patients from the Central and Felicia also found that racial al therapy and extended Eastern Arctic at Brandon. segregation was refleted in health. In Between 1958 Brandon operated a full and the construction and and 1961 all of the complete sanatorium service, renovation of wards at the remaining Indigenous and had a resident surgeon. Brandon Sanatorium. This tuberculosis patients at The most commonly perform- was particularly evident as Brandon were transferred to ed surgeries were pneumo- the buildings shifted purpose the Manitoba Sanatorium at from military hospital to Ninette. 2 TB History Newsletter – Issue 3: Fall 2014 1 Meet Members of Our Research Team: Paula Okemow and Kathi Avery Kinew Paula Okemow and Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs health research Paula Okemow expert Kathi Avery Avery I am currently working towards a Three-Year BA Kinew tell us about their in the Urban & Inner City Studies Program at the experiences with TB University of Winnipeg. In the near future, I would like to work in an organization that involves historical research. working with youth at risk living in the inner city. In the Indigenous History of Tuberculosis in Manitoba project, I have been examining archival records from the Sanatorium Board of Manitoba relating to tuberculosis among Indigenous people in the sanatoriums. These historical records contain logging information of monthly Committee Minute meetings and medical superintendents’ reports that records vital information such as patient censuses, per diem rates and the kinds of drugs administered to patients. As part of the Indigenous History of Tuberculosis in Manitoba project, I have learned a great deal about the systematic racism Indigenous patients faced while undergoing treatment in the sanatoriums. Furthermore, this project has given me an opportunity to help raise awareness to others regarding tuberculosis among Indigenous people in these institutions. I believe that if we want to see positive change in the health care system, there needs to be collaboration with Indigenous people in the current health care system. Since working on this project, I have utilized my skills and knowledge by teaching and promoting awareness regarding the systemic racism of Indigenous people in Manitoba sanatoriums. (continued) 3 TB History Newsletter – Issue 3: Fall 2014 2 Kathi Avery Kinew interviews with people willing histories, so that we can to share, and would welcome learn about the early years I have worked with and for anyone contacting me at with family, their education First Nations for most of my AMC, or Dr. McCallum and work experience to life, including the past 14 directly. provide an overall look at years at the Assembly of each person’s life, and be TB was known to me in our Manitoba Chiefs, presently as better able to discern the family history when my Manager of Research & disruptions they grandfather returned from Social Development experienced, in having TB WWI with TB and was Initiatives. As a Ph.D. and being treated in immediately sent to a graduate from the University Sanatoria. We wish to thank Sanitarium. In high school, a of Manitoba, and Masters in very sincerely the men and fellow student had TB but was Social Work grad from the women who have shared able to live at home and University of Toronto, I have their stories about how they attend school, while being long ago understood the contracted TB, their treated with pills. My husband most in depth learning I have diagnosis, the journey to of four decades, the late been honoured with, is from treatment and care and the Tobasonakwut Kinew, told me Anishinaabe, Dakota and loneliness they lived many different stories of the Lakota, Cree, OjiCree and through, connections with extent of TB throughout Shoal Dene Knowledge-Keepers. Residential School or other Lake and Lake of the Woods For their sharing and schools, nursing stations, in the 1940s-1960s, personal patience, I am always Indian hospitals, and any loss of many relatives, and his grateful. impacts felt in approaching own late diagnosis and health care today, for the The Indigenous History of experiences in Thunder Bay people interviewed and people’s experiences with TB and Brandon Sans and Rehab their children and and the Sanatoria, under the (including great escapes). grandchildren. leadership of Dr. Mary Jane McCallum, is a very crucial The Indigenous history of TB history we can all learn from. and the segregated system of From Dr. McCallum’s Indian Hospitals and Sanatoria inspiration and long standing needs to be as well known work in this area, the and understood in its impact, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs as Indian Residential Schools has been pleased to be a are becoming today. This partner on the Advisory project is the beginning, we Committee. During the past hope, of more year, I also acted in the role documentation of the oral of Research Assistant, in and archival history, and ensuring Project researchers bringing insights to the people in the Public Archives of who were patients and staff, Manitoba were paid, seeking their families, and to people to keep them informed and working in health fields today, in touch, and undertaking and those working to design a interviews with people who future of unified, effective, did spend time in TB Sans inclusive health care. across Manitoba, 1930s-1970s. In this project, we have asked This year, I hope to do more people to share their life 4 TB History Newsletter – Issue 3: Fall 2014 123 Age and the Indigenous Sanatorium Experience in Manitoba It is becoming clear in the human experience that may not sanatorium experience was oral histories and archival have been obvious using other particularly difficult for them. research undertaken in methodologies. The removal of patients this study that age was an during the stage of important factor in the Statistics on the ages of patients childhood could also mean experience of sanatoria. admitted to sanatoria in the more difficulties upon Such an approach will years 1930 to 1970 changed discharge. Many children help us to avoid over time. Initially, in the 1940s, were not able retain generalizing while teasing the Canadian Tuberculosis Indigenous languages or out the particularities of Association targeted young close relationships with their sanatorium experience adults, feeling that they were relatives and community from the perspectives of the most likely to “benefit” from members while in the patients. Understanding the removal to a hospital setting, sanatorium and faced the factor of age in the where they could also learn difficulties communicating sanatoria experience of about mainstream values and when they returned, if they Indigenous people is also norms.